Steve Simon, a four-term assistant minority leader in the House, announced the endorsement in a letter sent to DFLers on Tuesday. In endorsing Brian Barnes, Simon is skipping over DFL candidate and rental property owner Sharon Sund, who is also actively campaigning for the DFL endorsement in the race.

Simon, a four-term assistant minority leader in the House, announced the endorsement in a letter sent to DFLers on Tuesday. In endorsing Barnes, Simon is skipping over DFL candidate and rental property owner Sharon Sund, who is also actively campaigning for the DFL endorsement in the race.

“Brian’s a great Democrat. He’s someone I’ve always been able to count on and he’s always been there for our party. In good times and bad, Brian has stood with Democrats throughout the West Metro,” Simon wrote. “You can trust Brian to stand up for the middle class, for marriage equality, and for a tax code that rewards hard work instead of those who can afford the best accountants.”

Simon’s endorsement is the first from a legislator in the race.

Barnes, a U.S. Navy veteran, oversees the marine division of Cummins Inc., a company that manufactures generators. He currently lives in Edina.